reSmush.it vs Smush (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Image Optimization Plugins top 10: reSmush.it at #9 and Smush at #4. Smush leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
reSmush.it
reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin
reSmush.it is the FREE image compressor and optimizer plugin - use it to optimize your images and improve the SEO and performance of your website.
Smush
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN
Compress and optimize images, enable lazy load, serve WebP & AVIF, and speed up your site with a global image CDN.
Who leads on what
Smush leads on all 5 measures we track.
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Smush is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 6,051 reviews, against 4.3 from 165 reviews.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,051 against 165.
Smush was updated more recently, on August 24, 2026; reSmush.it on August 20, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
reSmush.it
reSmush.it does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Smush
Pick Smush if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reSmush.it vs Smush side by side
| reSmush.it | Smush | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #9 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 165 | 6,051 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 3,586,737 | 69,096,921 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 1, 2016 | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
reSmush.it ratings
Smush ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither reSmush.it nor Smush can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
reSmush.it vs Smush: common questions
Is reSmush.it better than Smush?
Smush leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, reSmush.it or Smush?
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, reSmush.it or Smush?
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are reSmush.it and Smush free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. reSmush.it may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to reSmush.it and Smush
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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